SP 9010 - Krauss - Maffei ML 4000

News from the preservation world in the USA


Looks like we can't call it the "World's Most Impossible Restoration" any more.


Yesterday, the Pacific Locomotive Association board of directors authorized the purchase and transportation to California of the last living set of USA Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 C'C' gears and gearboxes in the world -- from a salvage yard in France! SP 9010, now under restoration in Brightside, California by Howard Wise and a PLA volunteer team, now has the chance to run under its own power -- something that's been considered by the rail preservation community to be absolutely and utterly impossible for the last 45 years.

PLA is raising funds now. It will cost about $30,000 to complete the purchase and secure ocean shipment. But let's not get ahead of the story... stay with us!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/13 16:28 by Notch16.

 

Video of SP 9010 going for a trip _ (without gears )

 

Thanks for the posting of SP 9010 news here!

We can report that the fundraising goals were met, and we are in process of securing and transporting the two ex-SP Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 C'C' geared bogies from Europe via the UK to California. We expect their arrival some time in January 2014. That will be a banner day!

Next milestone: raise funds to custom-build two Cardan drive shafts; one from the rear Maybach to the remaining Voith turbo transmission, and one from there to the 'new' intermediate gearbox on the rear bogie.

You can find more information on our "Southern Pacific 9010" Facebook page, on the SP 9010 website and workblog at sp9010.ncry.org -- and at the home site for the Niles Canyon Railway, SP 9010's home rails: www.ncry.org

We'll hope to make periodic updates here. On behalf of SP 9010 crew chief Howard Wise and the Pacific Locomotive Association, thanks for the good wishes!

~ Bob Zenk, SP 9010 PLA crew

 

The trucks have arrived .
link to site with pics http://sp9010.ncry.org/trucks.html#020314